Sprayer head control mechanism



w. w. TRANTER 2,577,828

SPRAYER HEAD CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Bed. 11, 1951 Filed Dec.2, 1947 IN VEN TOR. Wa monk Harder Dec. 11, 1951 w. w. TRANTER 2,577,828

,SPRAYER HEAD CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. l'faisonwifi'anier' Dec. 11, 1951 w. w. TRANTER SPRAYER HEADCONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 2, 1947 INVENTOR. MaisonWfianier AHormfg Patented Dec. 11, 1951 SPRAYER HEAD "CONTROL MECHANISMWatson'W; 'Iranter, York, Pa., assignorto A. B. Farquhar Company, York,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 2, 1947, SerialNo. 789,186

This invention relates to sprayer head control mechanisms andparticularly to those sprayer head controls which move the sprayerheads'i'na plurality of planes.

In using sprayers, in orchards particularly, it is necessary to meetmany conditions if the spray from sprayer headis to reach all parts ofthe trees to be treated. Some of these conditions are the height of thetrees, their girth, their density and in addition, the direction andvelocity of the wind at the particular time of use.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedsprayer head movementcontrolling mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved sprayerhead movement-controlling mechanism having means for causing movementabout both substantially horizontal andsubstantially vertical axes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedsprayer head movementcontrolling mechanism wherein'there is providedmeans for moving the sprayer head about a sub.- stantially horizontalaxis while vanother means may be simultaneously moving the sprayer headabout a substantially vertical axis. Another and still further object ofthe invention is the provision of .an improved sprayer headmovement-controlling mechanism wherein the sprayer head supporting meansis pivotally 3 Claims. (Cl. 29972:)

mounted on a'substantially vertical pivot with power transmitting meansmovable substantially at the axis of the pivot to transmit power to thesprayer headto move it about a substantially horizontal axis. v

Another and still further objectof the invention is the provision of. animproved sprayer, head movement-controlling mechanism whereinadjustments of the controlling mechanism are providedto controlthecharacteristics of. the sprayer head movement including the verticalangle of movement, the. highest andlowest positions in the limits of.movement, the acceleration. and speeds of movement at various points'intravel and the time of substantial stopatthe limits of movement for anygiven speed of the. drivingelement;

Other and further objects will beapparent to those skilled in the artfrom a reading of the complete specification. Fig. .1 I is adiagrammatic lay-out showing power connections for theinventiom Fig. 2illustrates a cross-sectiomon theline2.- -2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3.is a crossesection on-theline 3-3 oi Fig. 3:. Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side'view of the invention with the sprayer head pointing tothe rear.

Fig. 6 'is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the sprayer h'ead' pointingtowardthe left. 7

Fig. 7 is an enlar'gedpartially sectional view of the operating partsof'the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 sprayer head pointing upwardly.

Fig. 9 is a'detail view showing a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 7'from the opposite side.

"Fig. 10=is a detail view partly in section on the line I0l 0 of Fig. 7but with a modified construction of the link'18.

Similar reference characters refer to the same or similar partsthroughout the specification and drawing.

The numeral 20 designates the main frame of the sprayer which issupported by the wheels 2|. The forward end-of the frame is providedwith a hitch 22 with whichit is connected to the tractor T. Mounted onthe frame 20 is a tank 23 for carrying the supply liquid for the-spray.

At the forward" end of the main frame 20 is an interna1 combustionengine 24, which has a drive gear connection 25, 25a to a pump 26'. Thepump 26 has a suction pipe 26a through which the liquid is drawnfrom-the tank 23. Delivery of the liquid under pressure from the pump 26is through a pipe-26bwhich passes through the tank 23 withoutcommunication therewith. At the place where the. deliverypipe 26bemerges through the rear wall of the tank 23, it connects to adownwardly extend'ingpipe 260. .This pipe 26c terminates in the outlet23a to the flexible tubes 15d to belater d scribed.

A counter shaft 25b which drives the pump 26 extends through the housingof the pump 26. and is connected to. an agitator drive 21. This agitatordrive 21 rotates the agitator shaft 28, having agitator blades 28a allin a well-known manner.

Attached to the rearofthe main frame ZB-is an auxiliary. .irame 29vwhich. has a pair of brackets 29 11;, .each-connectedat itsouter end-tothe frame 29.-and atits-forward; end to-the main frame 20.

The rearend-oi;theagitator shaft 28 isprovided with a double universalconnection 29:1: which is connected-to ashorteshaft 30 onwhich ismounted av V-pulley 3i. This V-pulley- 31- is connected to a V--pulley3:2 by a V-belt 33. Swingingly and t with the pivotallymountedinaposition to contact the-V belt'33-is 'an'idler pulley, which acts totighten or loosen the'v -belt 33- on the pulleys-sl and;'32. Thev pulley32- is mounted on a shaft 3.5:which has at: its other endthe gearzt'l.Thisgear 3'! drives a pivotally mounted idler gear 58,, which in turn 3drives the gear 39 which rotates on and with the shaft 40. The shaft 40also carries a crank arm 4| which drives the oscillating mechanism forthe sprayer head, to be described.

Connected to the crank pin 4|a is the lower 5 end of the connecting rod42, the upper end of which is connected by a wrist pin 43a to asubstantially vertically movably crosshead 43. Since rotation of thesprayer head to be described,

about a vertical axis, is necessary, the crosshead Mounted on the top ofthe rear platform 29 is the housing 44 which is provided at its upperend with a centrally located downwardly extending cylindrical member44a. Seated in the inner cylindrical surface of the member 4411, is thehollow shaft or quill 45. Integral or rigid with the hol- 'low shaft isa flange member 45d which is secured by bolts 46 to the housing 44,which also hold the retainer guides 41 in place. The purpose of theretainer guides 41 will later appear. Seated in the upper and lower endsrespectively of the Q hollow shaft 45, are the bearing bushings 48 and49. These bushings or bearings 48 and 49 are put in place with a pressfit against shoulders 48a and 49a to hold them in their proper places asthe crosshead 43 moves up and down therewithin.

The direct supporting means for the sprayer head rotate about the hollowshaft or quill 45. A rotating cylindrical member 50 is provided with arigid flange 50a which extends under and is free to rotate relative tothe retainers 41 already described. A flanged bushing 50b is pressedinto the lower end of the cylindrical member 50 against the shoulder 50dand forms a thrust bearing pivot for the support of the sprayer head asa whole as will be later made clear. An upper bushing 500 is pressedinto the upper end of the cylindrical member 50 against the shoulder We,and provides for the support of the upper end of the cylindrical member50 and the sprayer head carried thereby.

4 tion between the pipe sections 26b and 26c and thus control the liquiddelivery to the sprayer head to be described. It is to be understoodthat when the valve 26d is closed, a suitable by-pass from the pump 26back to the tank 23 is provided.

Since this by-pass valve is not a part of this invention per se, it hasnot been illustrated nor will it be further described.

Adjacent the directional wheel 51 is a handle 58 on the end of arearwardly extending rod 59,

a which connects to one arm of a bell crank lever 50 at its rear end.The other arm of the bell crank lever 60 is connected to a verticallyextending rod 6|, which at its lower end is connected to an arm of thebell crank lever 62. The other arm of the bell crank lever 62 isconnected to a vertical rod '53, which extends through an opening 29b inthe platform 29 and is connected to another bell crank 64 which ispivotally supported at 64a below the platform 29. This bell crank 54carries on one of its arms the idler pulley 34 already described. Itwill thus be seen that when the operative at the front of the sprayermachine pushes or pulls on the handle 58, the idler pulley 34 will beforced into or out of engagement with the belt 33, which will act as aclutch means to transmit power from the V-pulley 3| to the V- pulley 32to drive the crank member 4| and to thereby drive the connecting rod 42and the cross 6 head 43 to drive the vertically oscillating means tocontrol the movement of the sprayer head as will be presently described.

As already stated, the connecting rod 42 drives the cross head 43 andreciprocates the same in a substantially vertical line. At pointssubstantially midway of the ends of the respective arms 5| 'and mountedon the web 5|a are bearings III, in which is journaled a shaft 1|.Secured to this shaft H and rotating therewith, are a pair ofsubstantially triangularly shaped lever plates 12 which are connected bya web 12b. The web 12b is provided with an adjusting slot 12c to belater described. Mounted on the top of the cross-head 43 and swivelledon a substantially vertical axis is the swivel block 13. This swivelblock 13, and

- Secured to the cylindrical member 50, are fork tr a u a p a s 1| a pivta ly connected y a members 5|, havin a connecting web 5| 4:, and whichcarry the trunnions of the sprayer head to be described. Secured to thefork members 5| is a grooved pulley 52, the plane of which is normal tot e axis of rotation of the cylindrical member 50. A cord or wire 53 isseated in the groove of the pulley 52 and its extensions crossed forwardthereof to give greater contact with the groove. The ends of the cord orwire 53 pass through lower pulleys 54 and then extend upwardly to theupper edge of the tank member 23, where they pass over the pulleys 55.

From the pulleys 55 the cables 53 extend forwardly to a pulley 5'5, seeFig. 4, which is mounted rigidly on a vertical shaft which also, rigidlycarabout a vertical axis to throw the spray in the desired direction.

Where the delivery pipe 26b connects to the downwardly extend ng pipe260 is a'valve 25d which has an arm 25a to open and close connectionbetween the pipes 25b and 260. Connected to the outer end of the arm 26ais a rod 26! which extends forwardly to a position adjacent to thatoccupied by the operative and terminates in a handle 26:7. By pushing orpulling on the handle ately placed' in the members 12, the lower andupper angular limits of travel, the acceleration and speed of angularmovement and the length of the substantial pause at the ends of themovements may be changed.

The upper ends of the anns 5| are provided with openings 5|b in whichare journalled the supporting pivots 15a of the sprayer head shell 15.

The sprayer head shell 15 provides the means for forming a guided pathfor the air as it picks up the spray from the spray nozzles now to bedescribed. In the form of sprayer head illustrated, the sprayer headshell 15 is of a substantially rectangular shape. Extending from end toend are three supply pipes 15b, which are connected together by a pipe150 which in turn is connected to the flexible supply hoses 15d. Theseflexible supply hoses 15d are connected to the connection 230 alreadydescribed. The

.spray solution under pressure from the pump 23 25g, the operative mayopen or close the connec- 76 1 111795 the liq in h p p 75b and Outthrough the nozzles lawhere-the liquid forms. a

spray and gathers the air within the frame or shell ldiordelivery totheplants or trees to. be

treated? As. the details of construction -oftzthe nozzle are nota partoi:theinstant invention" per se, the construction of-"the nozzlewill'znotibe further described.

As already stated, the triangular members 72 are provided with a rigidreinforcing web 121), which connects their tops together. Extendingacross the tops of the triangular members 12, is an adjustable member Hwhich has flange portions 'Il'a slidable along theouter surfaces of thetriangular members I! when adjustment takes place. A bolt Ha: passesthrough theadjustable member 'H' and slides in the slot 120 ofthe webmember 12b during adjustment. A block Hy straddles the slotl2c and isheld: in place by the head of' the clamping Jbolt 1:73;. A reinforcingflange .711). extends across'thetoplof theadjustable member [1. Atthesides of the member T5 are ivots Tic to which are pivotally connectedthelinksrlB. The opposite ends of the links. it

are pivoted atlfia to the shell 15. It will thus'be clear that theswinging movement ofzthe triangular plates 52 will cause the pushing andpulling of the links 78 on the shell 15, causing the latter to oscillateabout the pivots 15a as a center and the sprayer head will move to ahigh angle and then reverse its position until it is at a lower angle.

The operation as a whole will now be described.

With the sprayer trailer connected to a truck or tractor T, the motor 24is started and the clutch (not shown), to the pump 26 is thrown in andpower is supplied to the pump 26 by the pump drive gearing 25, 25a. Theshaft 25?) rotates to furnish power for the moving parts of the pump 26.The pump 2!; draws the liquid through the pipe 26a and discharges itunder high pressure through the pipe 26b, the valve 280?, the pipe 250,the connection 23a to the flexible tubing 15d and thence by the pipes150 and 15b to the nozzles 16 Where the liquid is delivered to theatmosphere.

The agitator shaft 28 drives the double universal joint 29x, which inturn drives the shaft 3! the pulleys 3| and 32, the shaft 35, the gears31, 38 and 39 and the shaft 40. The shaft 40 turns the crank 41 whichthrough its crank pin Ma and the connecting rod 42, causes the up anddown reciprocating motion to the cross-head 43. The swivel block is atthe top of the cross-head 43 moves up and down with the cross-head andmoves the links M. links M are connected to the triangular plates 12 bythe pins 14a. and since these plates 12 are connected to the links 18,it follows that the latter through their connections to the shell 15 and18a, will operate to cause the oscillations of the shell 35 and thewhole spray head about the supporting pivots 15a which are located inthe openings 51a of the spray head supporting arms 5|. With the powerparts in continuous operation as just described, the circular movementof the crank 4| will cause the oscillatory swinging of the spray head inan up and down movement in a vertical plane. It will be clear that withthe adjustment made possible by the insertion of the pin Ma in thedesired hole 13a, and the adjustment of the member 1! along the members12, the members [2 and their web 72b become what amounts to a bell crankmember having arms of adjustable length and with the arms at adjustableangles with relation to each other. It is Since the upper ends of thethis; construction. which makes possible avariation inithe whole angleof travel, the angular relation of the axis of thesprayer head atrlowand high positions,;the.speed and .acceleratiorrat difierentpoints.in'the movement and the length of the substantial? stop at the highest.and lowest points: in the movement. As:;the pressure within the nozzles;16 forces. the liquid therefrom, the 'air'within the 'shell- [5. isforced outwardly in a manner which produces aresult similar toy that ofa Venturi tube, a great volume of the air beingmoved at a great speed.action causes the spray to bade:- livered at greatxdistances from thesprayhead. While this delivery of spray -iiss-taking place, itis foundto be advantageous for the operator to: be able to turnv the spray headab'outwits yer-'- tical axis. To do this it is only necessary for theoperativeto turn the'direction wheel filin the directionhe wishesthesprayerhead to turn; This action turnsi'the pulley 56. The pulley 58ishconnected to the" cable 53, which passes over the pulleys 5'4, 55 andthen: around-"the pulley 52. :Since the pulley 52 is rigid with thesupporting arms 51 which carry the sprayer head, it follows that thepivoting of the sprayer head is always under direct control of theoperative at the directional wheel 51.

With the adjustment of the member 11 along the members 12 and the pin14a in the proper opening 13a, the tractor or truck draws the sprayeralong, for example, through an orchard.

By turning the sprayer head as large trees are passed, the sides of thetrees may be reached by the spray from the sprayer head in a mosteflicient manner.

At the start or finish of an operation, the oscillation of the sprayerhead may be started or stopped by the movement of the handle 58 locatedwithin reach of the operative. The pressure from the pump 26 may be outoif by operating the valve 26d by the rod 261 and its handle 26g,

A further adjustment may be made by substituting for the links 18, theadjustable links I18 as illustrated in Fig. 9. In this construction, aball and socket adjustable connection is made. The link H8 screws into acylindrical shell I'IBa which has a block I181) against the shoulderI180. A cotter held block l18d is screwed in the open end of the shellllfia. The ball 11d enters the side of the shell I'I8a through asuitable opening. A look nut IlBe holds the rod or link I18 in adjustedposition.

While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and describedin detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is merelyillustive and that modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within its scope asclaimed. Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism comprising a support, ahollow substantially vertical pivoting means mounted on the support, asprayer head, an arm support on the pivoting means for supporting thesprayer head, a reciprocating member within the pivoting means, a levermeans fulcrumed on the arm support, means connecting one end of thereciprocating member with the lever at a place spaced from its fulcrum,means on the lever for connection to the sprayer head and spaced fromthe connection, to the reciprocating member, and power means forreciprocating the reciprocating member.

- 2. A sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism Comprising a support,a hollow substantially vertical pivoting means mounted on the support, asprayer head, an arm support on the pivoting means for supporting thesprayer head, a reciprocating member within the pivoting means, a levermeans fulcrumed on the arm support, height varying and angle varyingmeans for adiustably connecting the upper end of the reciprocatingmember with the lever at any one oi. a plurality of spaced positions,means on the lever for connecting the sprayer head and spaced from theconnection to the reciprocating member, and power means forreciprocating the reciprocating member. e

3. A sprayer head movement-controlling mechanism comprising a support, ahollow substantially vertical pivoting means mounted on the support, asprayer head, an arm support on the pivoting means for supporting thesprayer head, a reciprocating member within the pivoting means, a levermeans fulcrumed on the arm support, means connecting one end of thereciprocating member with the lever at a place spaced from its fulcrum,means on the lever for connection to the sprayer head and spaced fromthe connection to the reciprocating member, and power means forreciprocating the reciprocating member, a pivot at the end of thereciprocating member connecting means and openings at variousout-oi-line positions to selectively receive the pivot for changing therelative distances of the lever connecting means from the lever fulcrumand the angle thereabout.

WATSON W TRANTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 47,219 Phillips Apr. 11, 186556,304 Whiteley, Jr July 10, 1866 525,262 Dougherty et al. Aug. 28, 1894539,862 Faure et al May 28, 1895 1,688,614 Cottingham Oct. 23 19282,237,687 Parsons et a1 Apr. 8, 1941 2,363,776 Dale Nov. 28, 19442,365,755 Grifflth Dec. 26, 1944

